The Tree That Reached the Sky – A Hungarian Folk Tale

Once upon a time, a very long time ago, far beyond the end of the world, I saddled a nag, leapt upon her back and rode into the forest. I ate well, I drank well, and I put the nag under my head for a pillow. All of a sudden I awoke; my nag had been stolen. That gave me a real start, and I dashed up a hill and at the top I climbed a tree. I shook the tree so hard, the mulberries, plums and hazelnuts bounced down on my head. And in that moment an old woman shouted at me. “Hey, there, child!” she called. “Don’t trample on the mulberries, plums and hazelnuts. It’s not you that grew them!” I can tell you, it’s all true, and another thing ...